Insulin Resistance and Severe Insulin Resistance: What’s The Difference?

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas which is responsible for regulating the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and protein by promoting the absorption of glucose from the blood. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body does not respond to the amount of insulin it is producing. It is linked to pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. To know more about insulin resistance, read the full article.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance which is also known as impaired insulin sensitivity is a condition where the cells in muscles, fat and liver do not respond to insulin as they should. Individuals suffering from this disease have their pancreas deploys greater amounts of the hormone to keep cells energized and blood glucose levels under control. This is why people with type 2 diabetes tend to have elevated levels of circulating insulin. 

Insulin Resistance Symptoms

Symptoms of insulin resistance can be similar to that of diabetes. The only thing to keep in mind is that the symptoms take time to reveal themselves as till the time the body can produce insulin to keep blood glucose level stable there are no symptoms but over time the cells in the pancreas that make insulin can wear out and that’s when the symptoms are revealed. Some common symptoms are:

• Feeling thirsty 
• Frequent urination
• Increased hunger
• Blurry vision
• Headache
• Vaginal and skin infections
• Slow healing of cuts and sores

Insulin Resistance Causes

What leads to insulin resistance is still a debatable topic, but so far what we know is that genetics are at play and certain genes make a person more or less likely to develop insulin resistance. In addition, older people are more prone to insulin resistance. Still, some commonly identified causes are:

• Obesity

Excess body fat especially in the belly and around vital organs is the primary cause of insulin resistance causes

• Physical inactivity

Lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle are associated with weight gain, which can lead to insulin resistance

• Diet

A diet of highly processed, high-carbohydrate foods and saturated fats has been linked to insulin resistance

• Side effects from medicine

Medications like steroids, some blood pressure medications, psychiatric drugs and certain HIV treatments are also linked to insulin resistance

Severe Insulin Resistance And How It Is Different From Insulin Resistance?

Insulin sensitivity differs from person to person as tissues of some individuals are more sensitive to insulin than others. This is the major difference between insulin resistance and severe insulin resistance. In some patients, a very small amount of insulin produces a large change in the blood levels of glucose and fats, these are said to be insulin sensitive. While in others, much larger amounts are required to produce the same change and are tagged as insulin resistant. 

In the case of severe insulin resistance, bodies respond least well to insulin and most of these individuals are more likely to develop diabetes in future. In some rare cases, severe insulin resistance can be from birth.

Severe insulin resistance can create a range of other different diseases in its own right, like:

• Metabolic problems
• Fatty liver disease
• Diabetes
• Pancreatitis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome

Conclusion

Fighting with a disease like insulin resistance can be a task and can feel frustrating and discouraging at times. But, one should know that even losing weight and exercising more can help you get back to blood sugar control and better health.

References

• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance
• https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/insulin-resistance.html
• https://familydoctor.org/condition/insulin-resistance/
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22206-insulin-resistance
• https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/insulin-resistance
• https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/our-services/diabetes/national-severe-insulin-resistance-service/what-severe-insulin-resistance/
• https://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0315/p1159.html